A Texas center is making a difference in the lives of many.
Hundreds of residents from Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico are going through rehab everyday at the West Texas Rehabilitation Center. An annual telethon that's raising money is helping make it possible for these patients to receive the care they need.
WT Rehab President, Woody Gilliland, says "An awful lot of folks that don't have insurance coverage. We have an awful lot of youngsters that lack appropriate prenatal care, and born with birth defects and illness injury."
Gilliland says their mission is to impact quality of life regardless financial circumstance. He says, "From the beginning, the rehab mission has been to never turn anyone away regardless of financial circumstance, or if they don't have a payer source."
He says they've been able to continue that over 60 years thanks to donor support. The WT Rehab Center is an out-patient non-profit that treats both children and adults. Gilliland adds, "From the beginning of life to the end of life is the continuum that we serve." Their services include physical, occupational, and speech therapies.
On average, they're treating about 500 patients a day throughout their different centers in Abilene, San Angelo and Ozona. And he says, "That continues to grow. The demand for services is great today. If not greater than it was back when we started back in 1953." Carol Lester, a therapist with the center, says, "If you have a concern as a parent, be willing to come in. And we can either reassure you that everything is fine, or we can say, you know, that there is a problem. And we'll help you out with it."
The goal for this year's five hour telethon on Saturday is to raise a million dollars. The live broadcast will tell stories of various patients.
Gilliland says, "The rehab center has been blessed over these 60 years with great donor support. And in many cases it's second and third generation donors. And it's really, it's all about people believing in what we do. And the impact that we have on patients and their family"
Jessica Abuchaibe, NewsChannel 10.
